Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Morris's Disappearing Bag

It's hard to believe that Rosemary wrote and illustrated this book in 1975, only three years into a career that has proven to be one of the most longstanding and successful in contemporary children's picture booking. Her style and illustrations here are just as strong then as they are now... as if her bunny characters were born out of the womb in a state of perfection. Though she's gotten ever so slightly more lush over the years, there is no learning curve in these pictures... just pure Wells joy beaming forth.

And so, we meet the bunny Morris. The baby in a brood of four. Each one is gifted a unique present on Christmas morning, all seemingly more thrilling than the bear Morris receives.

No one will share their decidedly grown up gifts (a chemistry set, a hockey outfit, and a beauty kit), that is, until...

Morris sat under the Christmas tree. Suddenly he noticed a package that had been overlooked. He opened it. In it was a Disappearing Bag. Morris crawled right in.

The gift of invisibility is simply too hard to resist, and what started out as an awful holiday for our dear, little bunny becomes the best one yet. This book couldn't be more adorable or more wondrous. A sweet, sweet stocking stuffer for any little bunny who's ever felt like vanishing, even if just for a moment.